New York City Nurses Stand Up for Better Work Conditions

In a bold move, thousands of nurses from three major hospital groups in New York City walked off the job. They are demanding better working conditions and fair pay. The nurses, part of the New York State Nurses Association, say they are overworked and underpaid. They are striking at NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, and Montefiore hospitals. The strike involves about 15, 000 nurses. The hospitals say they are doing their best to meet the nurses' demands but claim the union's requests are too expensive. The nurses want safer staffing levels, better security, and limits on the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Mayor Zohran Mamdani showed his support for the nurses. He visited the picket line at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He said the nurses deserve dignity, respect, and fair pay. Other politicians also visited the striking nurses. Governor Kathy Hochul urged both sides to negotiate a deal that recognizes the essential work nurses do.The strike could have big effects on healthcare in the city. It might force hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures, or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on other city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute. The nurses' demands vary by hospital. But the main issues are staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses too much work. They also want better security measures. The hospitals say they are working to improve staffing levels but the union's demands are too costly. The last major nursing strike in the city happened in 2023. That strike lasted three days and resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at Mount Sinai’s flagship hospital and Montefiore. It also led to promised staffing improvements. But now, the union and hospitals disagree about how much progress has been made. The hospitals have hired temporary nurses to fill the gap. They say they are ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract. But the nurses say they are not backing down until their demands are met.